IMOS Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) Meeting Report Melbourne Airport 4-5 September 2018 IMOS is a national collaborative research infrastructure, supported by Australian Government. It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent. www.imos.org.au Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3 Prioritisation Process ....................................................................................................................... 5 The Science and Technology Advisory Committee ......................................................................... 7 The Structure of IMOS Facilities ...................................................................................................... 8 Assessment by Facility .................................................................................................................... 9 1. Broadscale ................................................................................................................................. 12 2. Backbone ................................................................................................................................... 16 3. Regional ..................................................................................................................................... 23 4. Program level ............................................................................................................................. 28 Portfolio balance ............................................................................................................................ 31 ATTACHMENT 1 – STAC membership ......................................................................................... 33 2 Executive Summary The IMOS Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) met on 4 and 5 September 2018 in Melbourne. The meeting’s objective was to provide scientific and technical advice for the prioritisation of NCRIS investment in IMOS facilities. This meeting included discussions on the continuation of existing facilities and sub-facilities, the growth of existing facilities and sub- facilities, and the potential for new or aspirational activities, as identified in the IMOS Five Year Plan (‘the Plan’). This report outlines the key elements of background papers provided to and discussions had by the STAC and provides a summary of advice on the relative priorities identified. The prioritisation process concluded the following: Broadscale Argo: It was agreed that there be ongoing commitment to core Argo plus a funding uplift of ~46% for ice-capable and Biogeochemical (BGC) Argo. Ships of Opportunity (SOOP): Continuation of the SOOP Facility is supported, with some potential for enhancement through industry partnerships Satellite Remote Sensing: The IMOS Strategy is well on track in regards to SRS, and there will be a continued focus on SST, ocean colour, altimetry, and surface waves. Growth funding will be provided to respond to recommendations of the Ocean Colour Radiometry Task Team and to seize opportunities arising from new altimetry missions. Animal Tracking: IMOS plans to continue this work, in close collaboration with the Argo facility. Backbone Deep Water Moorings: The Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) site and East Australian Current (EAC) transport array will be maintained. Additional, one-off investment in a US led Indonesian Through Flow (ITF project) is supported. AUV: The AUV-based Integrated Benthic Monitoring program should be stabilised and expanded in line with the highest priorities expressed by the AUV Steering Committee. The community will be asked to redevelop the 2018-22 continuation plan and budget into an expanded program on that basis. Additional investment will also be made in marine image analysis subject to clear feedback from the community as to the most appropriate way forward. Revised proposals will come back to STAC for review. Citizen Science – Reef Life Survey: The National Reef Monitoring Network proposal submitted by the Reef Life Survey proponents is not supportable in its current form. Further discussion will be undertaken with the proponents, including whether all of the resources requested are essential, and whether other partners could contribute. If IMOS is to invest, it needs to be into a network that can be sustained over time. If these discussions progress to the stage where a viable proposal emerges, this will come back to STAC for review. National Mooring Network (NRS + OA, Waves): Continued investment by IMOS in the National Reference Station Network has strong support, with expansion into marine microbes presenting an exciting new frontier, as well as the potential for inclusion of ichthyoplankton subject to user and stakeholder support. Ongoing IMOS investment in ocean acidification at current levels is justified, although consideration may need to be given as to the exact nature of what is being done, where and how, through a broader discussion with the relevant science and stakeholder communities. There was strong support from STAC for IMOS beginning to invest directly in in situ wave measurements. IMOS will maintain a watching brief on the issue of observing ocean sound, nationally and internationally. Australian Microbiome Initiative: Inclusion of a marine microbial component is an exciting scientific development for IMOS, and the partnership with Bioplatforms Australia (BPA) demonstrates the power of NCRIS as a national collaborative research 3 infrastructure program. Pathways to impact is a key issue in the next phase. Opportunities to expand through coastal sampling and biobanking need more discussion and development before they are to be properly evaluated by STAC. Animal Tracking: The IMOS acoustic telemetry program is now well on track, and we have an exciting opportunity to explore the redesign of a component of the observing system in response to user and stakeholder requirements. Regional Ocean Gliders: The current IMOS Ocean Glider program will be maintained, refined and strengthened, with an increment in event-based sampling of marine heatwaves subject to an acceptable proposal which will come back to STAC for review. National Mooring Network (shelf arrays): The shelf arrays component of the National Mooring Network will be continued at its current level, with redistribution of assets in the northwest, and strategic enhancements in the northern GBR and Bonney Upwelling. Ocean Radar: Continued investment by IMOS into a national Ocean Radar network is warranted, with additional co-investment supporting a revised network (following consolidation in the 2017-19 funding period) underway in NSW and WA. Wireless Sensor Network: At this stage, allowance has been made for continuation at the base level on a 2018-22 timeframe. Remote Regions – Surface Drifters: Overall, STAC found the proposal on surface drifters to be unconvincing in the context of IMOS as an Australian Government funded research infrastructure focused on sustained observing. IMOS will be unable to act on its aspirations to develop remote regional observing capability based on its currently available funding for the 2018-22 period. Program level IMOS Office, AODN and OceanCurrent: The Board has agreed to fund the IMOS Office, AODN and OceanCurrent ‘off the top’ and advice from STAC was not sought on the relative priority of these investments. It was agreed that AODN and OceanCurrent need to remain accountable for what they are delivering, as with other Facilities. STAC will have an ongoing role in reviewing the scientific and technical performance of IMOS across all four key performance indicators and will be provided with an appropriate level of information to do this at future meetings. New Technology Proving Capability: STAC will oversee development of the process to guide wise investment of IMOS new technology proving resources. It was noted that some of the growth opportunities in the Five-Year Plan and identified by other means may be more suitable for funding under New Technology Proving than for direct funding as a facility priority at this stage. This report from the 4-5 September STAC meeting, plus additional feedback on proposals coming back to STAC for reconsideration, will provide the basis for recommendations on 2018-22 funding to be considered by the IMOS Board at its next meeting, on 26 November 2018. 4 Prioritisation Process IMOS Strategy 2015-25 The IMOS Strategy 2015-25 identified strategic priorities constructed around three imperatives: Need, Capability and Impact. The vision enunciated by the IMOS Strategy is that by 2025, Australia will have a continuously growing time series of essential ocean variables for marine and coastal environments. This will enable cutting-edge research on contemporary problems, and provide a scientific basis for informed decision making about our vast and valuable marine estate. When the IMOS Strategy was developed, long-term funding was not secure. The Strategy’s intent was to lay the strategic foundations for the prospective continuation of IMOS. The National Science and Implementation Planning Process IMOS has been guided by science and implementation planning since its inception. The community put significant effort into developing Node Science and Implementation Plans in 2009-10, including taking them through international peer review. The six